Victorian Siblings Journey from England to Canada

Want to know why these Victorian siblings have journeyed from England to Canada?  These are their heartfelt letters home to their parents, chronicling their journey across the ocean and their early days on the east coast of Canada. Through their letters, we glimpse a world of adventure and hope in 1896.

This post is about our Victorian siblings continuing their journey towards Agassiz after their stay at the Grand Union Hotel in New York.

Letters Home

Separated by an ocean, the siblings continued to update their parents on their journey by writing letters home each week. In the previous post, we learn that this journey across the Atlantic isn’t the first time they had travelled by steamship. The family had social standing and wealth that allowed them to travel 1st or 2nd class. Although it wasn’t the siblings’ first time across the Atlantic, May still struggled to gain her sea legs and must have been relieved when they arrived at Ellis Island, New York. They briefly stayed at the Grand Union Hotel, which was another indication of their status and wealth.

Cecil’s Letter to Father: Wednesday, March 11, 1896

Dear Father,

We arrived in Brandon on Monday. Archie was at the station to meet us. He was very much surprised to see Jack. There wasn’t room in the cutter for all of us. But Wardie Meadowes had taken a load of hay into Brandon so I went back on the hay rack with him.

I have left an account of the money we have spend so far; we only had $4 duty to pay that was on the two guns. I told them that we had some church things but they said that was all right. This is how we have spent the money so far. 

Tips on the steamer $10
Cab at New York $4
Hotel and Meals at New York $9-50
Freight from New York to Montreal $3
Meals on the train & sleepers** to Montreal $8.45
Hotel at Montreal (cabs) $12
Duty $4
Sleepers to Brandon $16.50
Meals Saturday 7th to Monday 9th $17.5
Hotel at Brandon $3

Harold & I went up to Highwood today, Mr. Beacall seemed very pleased to see us. I am going in to the city tomorrow with him and going back to stay the night with him. 

He is going to come to lunch on Friday. Evelyn is very pleased with the doll.

With very much love
I remain
Your aff. son
Cecil Wright.

Notes from the Historian

The cutter that Cecil is referring to is a small boat or ferry, and the sleeper is a different type of train. Given their travel from Montreal and heading west, it is likely that Brandon is Brandon, Manitoba. Brandon was a significant stop for the Canadian Pacific Railway trains in 1896. It was a growing city that was known for being a stopping point for those heading west. It was filled with people on their way to settle and farm in the west. Highwood is another city in Manitoba about 130 kilometers away.

With Cecil writing about having close relationships with people in Brandon, it makes us wonder if the siblings had been there before? Or maybe those already in Brandon had known the sibling in England? Either way, their parents expected them to meet with Conny and Evelyn so they had sent along gifts to be given.

Letter from May to Mother: Saturday, March 12, 1896

Box 58. Rapid City
Manitoba
March 12th, 1896

My dearest Mother, 
We got here all right the day before yesterday, the train was only five minutes late at Brandon & Mr. Archie was there to meet us, he said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Jack, but was delighted. The snow was quite deep but not so very cold, just down to zero.

We did our unpacking in the morning & started up here at about twelve o’clock. Wardie Meadows drove up Cecil & the luggage on his hay rack & Jack, Harold & I came up in the double cutter with Mr. Archie. Our only adventure across the river & on the other side, there was a very steep bank. To pull us up the horse fell right over & refused to get up.  So, the two boys held up the cutter. Mr. Archie had Mr. Lee to help him. From there, Harold pulled him backwards down the bank again by his tail. After that adventure, we got on very well. Mr. Beacall has just come to take Cecil to town, so I must stop.

With very much love, 
Your Aff. daughter,
May Wright.

May’s Letter to Mother: Friday, March 14, 1896

Box 58. Rapid City,
Manitoba, Canada
March 14th, 1896

My dearest Mother,
I thought I should have plenty of time for my letter the other day, but Mr. Beacall sent for Cecil earlier than he said he would. Harold & Cecil both went to Highwood & spent the night & came down with Mr. Beacall to lunch here. I was out & so did not see him but he is coming again to see me he says.
We got up here about four on Tuesday, everyone was very much our friend & please to see Jack. Marien has made a great deal of him, in fact so has everyone. Mrs. Heard is not at all well, she has not been well all the winter; her nerves are very much upset, but she is rather better. She gets dreadfully nervous over playing accompaniments, so that Archie has not been able to enjoy for a long time. He relies on his songs ever since we came here.

On Wednesday afternoon, Archie went to the wood lots for a load & I went as far as Mrs. Long’s with him. She is very sweet & pleasant person. She told me that Lottie asked her to tell me that she thinks of leaving early & tries to come to me if Jack arrives, but she has said nothing to Mrs. Hear yet. I don’t feel so sure as she is a sort of person one would fall in love with & she is used to the country & being alone a great deal. Marien has remarked that she doesn’t intend to trust her as she is not a good enough servant; she wants someone she can leave in charge. We asked Rose if could she pay her travelling expenses.

Yesterday, I went into town with Archie to post some letters that had to go, we got into town just as the train went out. So we had dinner & drove on to Rapid City. We stopped there about ten minutes & got back here about eight o’clock, having driven nearly fifty miles. 

This afternoon I am going to the Lone Meadows (Cherokee Meadows); it is not very cold weather- it varies between 20 degrees at night & 40 degrees below zero.

March 16th- Mr. Pickers has come out. He is now smoking in the verandah. I must finish this letter & get him to post it, it is a beautifully warm day, thawing fast. If it continues, the trail will be dreadful in a few days. Mrs. Heard sends you her love & she is going to write to you very soon. She admired the church things very much, especially the worked ones, they all think it is very kind of the aunts. Mr. Heard seems much as usual, he said, “I was to be sure to tell Father how much he enjoyed the smelly salts. Evelyn was delighted with the doll & thanked Cecil a great many times for it. She ransacked the drawers to show the boys all the clothes.

I have not been into church yet. I did intend to go this afternoon, but now Mr. Pickering is here & Marien does not want to go out.

I don’t think either of the boys are going to write. They are very well. Jack was rather done up by the journey, but he has got over it now.

With very much love, 
Your affectionate daughter,
May Wright

P.S. Mr. Munn forwards your letters.

Notes from the Historian

In these letters, we see more than just a journey, we see the deep bonds of the siblings and their parents. They have crossed the ocean and frozen rivers, stayed in elegant hotels, and rode amongst the haystacks. Each detail brings us closer to them and their world in 1896.

But their story is just beginning. Ahead lies Agassiz, farm life, and many more letters.
Follow along as we trace their footsteps across Canada one letter at a time.